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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook] in Books

Dec 18, 2022  
The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook]
The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook]
Neil Alexander | 2022 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh my word! This is a debut novel for Mr Alexander and what a debut it is.

I absolutely love Margaret ... what a likeable and strong character she is despite what she experienced in her young life. She has every reason to dislike her fellow human beings but she is much better person than most ... she is kind, thoughtful and understanding.

The book is told in two timelines, the past and the present.

The present: Margaret is 75 and living independently with the support of her excellent support worker Wayne. Margaret loves Cilla Black and she likes nothing more than listening to Cilla's autobiography but when she starts receiving notes and gifts from someone who signs them with "C", Margaret thinks Cilla is back from the dead but it can't be so who is it? The notes revive memories from Margaret's past.

The past: Margaret's story starts at 7 years old when she is "vanished" into a long-stay institution called St Mary's where she lives for the majority of her life. I won't say she is 'cared for' as what she endured is not care in any way, shape or form but Margaret endures it with innocent acceptance of knowing it's not right but being powerless to do anything about it. There are scenes which broke my heart but others that also warmed it.

Both timelines are equally captivating and enthralling but the past had me in bits at times at the cruelties of how children and adults who are "different" were treated but through it all, was the voice of Margaret who I can only describe as being a beautiful person.

I listened to the audiobook and I can highly recommend it; the narrators are just brilliant particularly the voice of Margaret ... oh my, she was brought to life for me; it was like she was sitting right next to me telling me her story myself ... just brilliant.

Margaret is a fictional character however, her story is based on the experiences of 'real' people the author has met during his working life which makes this book even more powerful and I must thank Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Vanishing of Margaret Small.
  
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ClareR (5556 KP) rated I, Julian in Books

May 16, 2023  
I, Julian
I, Julian
Claire Gilbert | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry, Religion
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The concept of an anchorite, or in this case an anchoress, has fascinated me ever since I googled the term when my dad sent me a CD by someone called The Anchoress (she’s very good, by the way!). So when this book popped up on NetGalley, I was all in. And to be fair, the front cover would pretty much mean an insta-buy for me (it is gorgeous).

This novel imagines, what the autobiography of Julian of Norwich would be like. Julian was born in the mid-1300s, and after some serious losses during periods of pestilence - her father and then husband and daughter - she decides that she doesn’t want to remarry.

When she becomes very I’ll and almost dies, Julian experiences visions of God, and decides that she will devote her life to prayer. When a position as an anchorite in Norwich Cathedral becomes available, Julian Starts to prepare.

I found this an absolutely fascinating read. Basically, as an anchorite, you become dead to the world. You go to your own funeral wearing a shroud, and then you’re taken into a room where the door is bricked up. Your only contact with the world is through two small windows: one is for contact with a servant (you need to be able to afford one - they feed and clothe you, and pass cleaning materials as well through hole), the other opens on to the altar in the church. You pray, you listen to penitents or people wanting to confess, and your speak to your confessor (how on earth would you be able to sin?!). And then you pray more.

Ok, I admit that this review may not sell the book (I hope it does!) to its best advantage, but I really did find it fascinating! The fact that Julian’s faith was so strong that she could lock herself away from the world entirely was so alien to me. To be honest, I would imagine that devoting yourself to the cloistered life as a nun might be more favourable to dying young in childbirth as so many women did then. However, I very much doubt that the life of an anchorite was easy!

This is a thoroughly believable, well-written book. One to be savoured. I loved it.